Hopper.



E. P. KENDALL.

HOPPER. APPLICATION FILED 020.24. 1914.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Attorneys COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.,\VA5HINOT,0N. D. c.

EDWARD I. KENDALL, OF BOWDOINHAM, MAINE.

HOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1d, 1915.

Application filed December 24, 1914. Serial No. 878,898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ED ARD P. KENDALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bowdoinham, in the county of Sagadahoc and State of Maine,have invented a new and useful Hopper, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention appertains to hoppers, and aims to provide a noveland improved hopper for drawing oil various materials from bins, and thelike.

' One of the objects of the invention is to provide a valve or shutterassembled with the hopper in a unique manner, for cutting ol'i the flowof material through the discharge opening of the hopper, the parts beingso arranged that the material will run oii of the valve or shutter andwill not cling theretn or lodge thereupon when the valve or shutter isopened.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for mountingthe valve or shutter for movement, in a mostefliective manner, to openand close or control the passage through the discharge opening of thehopper.

A still further object of the invention, is the provision of'a novelactuating mechanism for the cut-off valve or shutter.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a hopper deviceof the nature indicated, which will be comparatively simple, compact,non-encumbering and inexpensive in construction, which mav be readilyassembled and taken apart, which is provided with adjusting means foradjusting the valve or shutter relative to the actuating means, andwhich is convenient, efficient and thoroughly practical in use.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which'will ap earas thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated inits preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of theimproved hopper, with the valve or shutter in closed position. Fig. 2 isa vertical section of the structure, with the valve or shutter swungopen. Fig. 3 is a reduced bottom view of the structure, with the valveor shutter closed.

The hopper proper or hopper body 1 is preferably in the form of acasting, and its upper edge is provided with an outstanding rim orflange 2 for bolting or otherwise securing the hopper to the bottom of abin, or other support, so that the material may be discharged or runinto the hopper so as to be dispensed through the lower discharge openng 3 of the hopper. The discharge openlng 3 is disposed obliquely or inan inclined position, and the side edges 4 of the opening 3 are curvedupwardly from the lower end ofthe inclined wall 5 of the hopper, to thelower end of the opposite wall 6 of the hopper. The walls 5 and 6 of thehopper are relatively long and short, so that the curved edges 1 of theother walls of the hopper will be arranged as specified, and to disposethe discharge opening 3 in the oblique or inclined position. The cut offvalve or shutter 7, which is also preterably in the form or" a casting,is curved to fit snugly against and move along the curved edges at andthe side edges of the valve or shutter 7 are provided with up turnedflanges or lips 8 extending partially over the respective side walls ofthe hopper.

In order to mount the valve or shutter 7 for oscillatory movement toopen and close the discharge opening 3 of the hopper, the side edges andflanges 8 of the valve are provided with outstanding lugs or ears 9between the upper and lower edges of the valve. and the end portions ofa Usl1aped or bail-like hanger rod 10 are engaged downwardly through thelugs or cars 9. while the intermediate or yoke portion of the hanger rod10 is fulcrumed or pivoted upon lugs 11 outstanding from the wall 5 ofthe hopper adjacent or immediately below the rim or flange 2 of thehopper. diate or yoke portion of the rod 10 is pivotally engaged betweenthe lugs 11 and hopper rim 2, against the wall 5 of the hopper, and therod 10 straddlesthehopper. The edges 4 and valve 7 are curved about theaXis of the yoke or intermediate portion of the rod 10, or a' linerunning between the lugs 11 and hopper rim 2, so that when the valve isswung with the rod 10, it will move properly along the edges 4 of thedischarge opening 3. Nuts 12 are threaded upon the ends of the rod 10and bear against Thus, the intermethe ears or lugs 9 for holding thevalve 7 snugly against the edges 1, it being noted that when the nuts 12are loosened and removed, the valve 7 and rod 10 may be sepa rated, andthe rod and valve may then be removed from the hopper readily.

The actuating mechanism for opening and closing the valve 7, embodies atrans verse rod or shaft 13 journaled through bearings 11 secured to therim 2 of the hopper at the upper end of the wall 6, the rod or shaft 13having a downwardly projecting or depending lever arm 15 at one side ofthe hopper, and a similarly projecting or depending arm 17 adjacent thewall 6 of the hopper. The lower end of the lever arm 15 is equipped witha suitable handle 1.6 in order that the lever 1517 may be readily swungfor controlling the valve. The arm 17 is connected to the valve 7 bymeans of a link 18, which is provided with a fork or bifurcated portion19 at one end straddling the lower or free end of the arm 17, andpivoted thereto by means of a bolt or pivot element 20, and the otherend of the link 18 ispivoted between a pair of depending or downwardlyprojecting ears or flanges 21 carried by the bottom of the valve 7. Theears or flanges 21 are preferably located centrally of the valve, and aremovable bolt or pivot element 22 is engaged through the ears 21 andrespective end of the link 18, the ears 21 being preferably providedwith a series of apertures 23 for the engagement of the bolt 22 wherebythe bolt may be removed and adjusted along the ears or flanges 21, toadjust the relation of the valve 7 and its actuating means or mechanism.

By swinging the lever arm 15, the valve 7 may be convenientlycontrolled, the parts being so arranged that when the arm 15 is swung tothe position illustrated in Fig. 1, the arm 17 of the lever will swingadjacent 1 the wall 6 of the hopper so that the link 18 will push thevalve 7 to closed position. It is to be noted that when the valve 7 isswung to closed position. the arm 17 and link 18 will tend to straightenout, so that the valve 7 will move relatively slow when it is at itsclosed position, and will move relatively fast when at its openposition, as seen in Fig. 2. In other words, the movement of the valveis accelerated in order that it may be quickly moved to and from acompletely open position, and in order that the valve may be accuratelyor nicely set when partially closed, since the valve will moverelatively slow with respect to the movement of the lever arm 15. Inthis manner, the operator or attendant may quickly cut off the flow ofthe material from the hopper, at the opportune moment, and mayconveniently swing the valve 7 at a desired distance from the wall 5 ofthe hopper, to allow a certain restricted flow of the material. It isalso to be observed that when the valve 7 is opened, it is swungupwardly, so that whenever the handle 16 is released, the valve willgravitate to a closed position of itself, to automatically cut off theflow of material. Furthermore, the valve is so positioned that thematerial thereon will readily run off of the same to prevent thematerial lodging upon the valve when it is opened. By adjusting the boltor pivot element 22, the valve 7 may be adjusted relative to theactuating mechanism, so that when the lever 1517 is swung to close thevalve 7, a predetermined slot or gap may be provided between the valve 7and hopper wall 5. The valve or shutter 7 may be operated easily evenwhen subjected to considerable pressure due to the weight of thematerial within the hopper.

What is claimed is:

1. A hopper having a lower outlet, a bailshaped hanger straddling thehopper, one wall of the hopper having means receiving. the yoke portionof the hanger for fulcruming the same to the hopper, the side edges ofthe hopper outlet being curved about the fulcrum of the hanger as acenter, a valve engaged upon the end portions of the hanger and movablealong the said edges of the outlet, and adjustable elements engaged uponthe ends of the hanger and bearing against the valve to hold the sameagainst the said edges of the outlet. 7

2. A hopper having opposite relatively long and short walls and aninclined outlet between the lower ends of the said walls. a U-shapedhanger straddling the hopper, the relatively long wall of the hopperhaving means receiving the yoke portion of the hanger for fulcruming thesame thereto, the side edges of the outlet being curved about the yokeportion of the hanger as a center, a valve engaged upon the end portionsof the hanger and movable along the said edges of the outlet, adjustableelements engaged upon the ends of the hanger to hold the valve againstsaid edges,.a lever fulcrumed to the hopper adjacent the relativelyshort wall thereof, and a link connecting the lever and valve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing V (lollies of this Patent may beobtained for five cents eaeh,-by l commissioner of Pal-tents,

I i Washington, 11c"! I a r

